Mt Prov gets 86% decrease in P233 million infra budget

By Gina Dizon       

                      

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- – This province considered one among the poorest provinces of the country  got only a total of P233 million for its two engineering district offices of Dept. of Public Works and Highways from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2019.

The combined 86% decrease from the 2018 budget in the now 2019 budget of P233 million represented  P167 million for  MPDEO 1st district based in Bontoc  with a decrease of  81% from last  year’s P919 million and a 91% decrease in the 2nd MPDEO district  based  in Paracelis with a P66 million  for 2019 from last year’s P765 million budget.

This was a  far cry from the proposed approved budget of P1.7 billion  as contained in the  National Expenditures Program (NEP) for the  two districts – the 1stdistrict  covering the municipalities of Bontoc, Sadanga, Besao, Sagada, Tadian, Sabangan and Bauko and  the 2nd district covering the municipalities of Paracelis, Natonin and Barlig.

Mountain Province Congressman- Caretaker Allen Jesse Mangaong said he endorsed the  proposed  (NEP) budget and got approval in the Lower House but got a glitch when it was  deliberated in the  bicameral conference where those with provinces who have  deceased  congressional representatives  had significantly slashed budget  from the proposed NEP budget.

The late Rep. Maximo Dalog died while still holding office in the last Congress.

His son Maximo “Maxi” Dalog Jr. won last May elections in the congressional race for the province

Mangaoang said he is lobbying DPWH Sec Mark Villar that MPDEO’s approved NEP budget in the Lower House be reconsidered.

Following this, First District MPDEO District Engineer Alexander Castaneda said LGU municipalities may propose separate projects under the DTI- DPWH convergence projects on trade-related infrastructure and DOT-DPWH convergence projects on tourism roads.    

The 1P67 million budget for the MPDEO 1st district projects for year 2019 are P47 million of preventive maintenance for  Mt Province-Ilocos  Sur via Tue, Tadian Road, Mt Province- Cagayan via Tabuk Enrile road, and Mt Province -Ilocos Sur-  Kayan road; local  infra projects of  P109 million  composed of  multipurpose buildings (MPB).

The MPBs  are in  Suyo Sagada, Talubin Bontoc, PoblacionvBauko, Otukan Norte Bauko, Betwagan Sadanga, Lubon Tadian, Tue Tadian, Anabel Sadanga, Dacudac Tadian, Data Sabangan, Pandayan Tadian; Pingad Sabangan, Caluttit Bontoc,  Besao, and Eyeb Bontoc.

Still on the P167 million for  the 1st district of MPDEO are  included herein P12 million cost of flood control projects at  Nacagang Sabangan, Losad Sabangan and Talubin Bontoc;  and local roads and bridges totaling P37.5 million  namely that in  Kilong Sagada, Sadsadan-Cuba Bagnen Bauko, Bayyo Bontoc, Mainit Bontoc, Poblacion Sagada, footbridge  in Tukukan Bontocc and constuction of Betwagan waterworks.

Second district MPDEO planning officer Jonel Emengga  said  the district’s P66 million identifies herein  a  P20 million construction of an area shop, P10 million Kassag-Paradi Paracelis road  and P30 million multipurpose buildings spread out in Paracelis.